Casey, Iowa – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Tuesday afternoon (8/30), released additional details about the pursuit of a motorcycle that ended in a fatal crash in Guthrie County, early Tuesday morning (8/30). The Sheriff reports shortly after midnight on August 30, 2022, an Adair County sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in the area of Adair-Madison Avenue and the Interstate 80 interchange at the 97mm. The deputy observed a parked motorcycle on the shoulder of the overpass. The individual sitting on the motorcycle appeared to be slumped over. A motorist assist/welfare check was performed and the individual indicated that he was just cold and had stopped to rest and/or warm up.

After the deputy had returned to his patrol unit, the deputy ran a check of the license plate that was displayed upon the motorcycle. The response showed that the motorcycle had been reported as having been stolen out of St. Cloud, Minnesota. The motorcycle had already gotten back onto Interstate 80 and was traveling westbound when the deputy attempted to catch up with and execute a traffic stop of the motorcycle. The operator of the motorcycle failed to yield to the deputy’s emergency lights and siren and continued westbound until exiting at Adair. The motorcycle fled north out of the City of Adair and into Guthrie County and was traveling back eastbound toward Casey.

Guthrie County Deputy Todd Thorn waiting to assist with the pursuit was stopped on Juniper Avenue on the south side of the intersection facing northbound, when the motorcycle veered south from White Pole Road and struck the rear, driver’s side of the Deputy’s 2021 Chevy Silverado pickup on Juniper Avenue.

The Iowa State Patrol identified the operator as 30-year-old Benjamin Todd Wilber of Mora, Minnesota. Wilber died at the scene from injuries he suffered in the collision. It was later determined that the Wilber had an active warrant for his arrest issued out of Anoka County, Minnesota for the charge of Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol is continuing to investigate the collision.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office released details on a recent burglary incident and subsequent arrest in Hamburg. Fremont County Deputies were called on August 23rd at approximately 10:35 p.m. to the 200 block of Park Street in Hamburg for a report of a burglary in progress. The caller advised the female suspect fled the residence and left her 8-year-old child at the scene.

When Deputies arrived the suspect, 37-year-old Danielle Casey of Sidney, returned to the scene. She was arrested and charged with Child Endangerment, 2 counts Theft 1st Degree, 3 counts Burglary 3rd Degree, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Deputies allege that Casey entered three buildings previously left unoccupied due to natural disaster and attempted to steal items from the buildings. She was believed to have an 8-year-old child in her care during the commission of the crimes. The child was later released to a family member.

The Iowa State Patrol, Fremont County K9 Unit, and Iowa Department of Human Services assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call. Casey is being held without bond awaiting initial appearance with the Fremont County Magistrate.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Monday of 41-year-old Deann Kuhl of Glenwood on a Mills County Warrant. Bond was set at $7,500 cash or surety.

Adair County Officials have announced that their current ban on open burning in the county will be lifted effective 12:00 a.m. on August 31st.

Adair County Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Kempf made the request to State Fire Marshall Dan Wood and he has approved the change.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests and one accident on Monday, August 29th.

At 1:44 p.m. Deputies arrested 50-year-old Scott Allan Farris of New London on a warrant out of Henry County for Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, Incest and Child Endangerment. He was arrested on 188th Street and booked in on $100,000 bond.

At 5:23 p.m. Deputies arrested 23-year-old Cole Joseph Nothwehr of Clarinda on Highway 34 for Possession of a Controlled Substance and 2 counts of Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. He was booked in to the Mills County Jail on $3,000 bond.

Deputies also responded to an accident at 290th Street and Highway 34 at 1:40 p.m. on Monday. It was determined that a 2017 Hyundai driven by 23-year-old Jasper Flowers of Hamburg was following a 1987 Ford driven by 52-year-old Randall Greenwood of Pacific Junction eastbound on Highway 34. Greenwood was hauling items to the dump and something fell out onto the road. Flowers was unable to avoid the debris on the roadway and struck the object. No injuries were reported and no further information was provided.

(Radio Iowa) The Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard says their current numbers are strong — but they are facing the challenges that every other organization is facing when it come to filling their needs. Major General Ben Corell says they will fall a little short of the recruiting mark he set.

Corell sums it up this way.

He says they need around one-thousand new recruits every year to fill the openings caused by attrition.

General Corell says his recruiting team is competing more now with all the other businesses looking for men and women.

Corell says more businesses have turned to one of the key incentives the Iowa Guard has used for years.

There’s been some criticism about younger kids just out of high school not being interested in serving. Corell says that always seems to be a something that’s said about young people — including when he graduated high school in the 70s.

And he says there are times when they are called to federal duty in the U-S or overseas. Corell says he still sees the Iowa and Midwest values of service that he was raised with in the eyes of new recruits.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A pursuit that began late Monday night in Adair County, ended in Guthrie County with the suspect vehicle crashing, and the driver deceased. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle was actively eluding an Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy eastbound on White Pole Road. Guthrie County Deputy Todd Thorn waiting to assist with the pursuit was stopped on Juniper Avenue on the south side of the intersection facing northbound, when the motorcycle veered south from White Pole Road and struck the rear, driver’s side of the Deputy’s 2021 Chevy Silverado on Juniper Avenue.

The operator of the cycle, 30-year-old Benjamin Todd Wilber, of Mora, MN, was thrown from the machine and came to rest in the southeast ditch. Wilber died from his injuries. No one else was hurt. The crash happened at around 12:32-a.m., Tuesday (Today).